Self-draining irrigation we



July 17, 1951 w. H. STOUT 2,561,296

SELF-DRAINING IRRIGATION LINE Filed March 14, 1950 I 3 Sheets-Sheet lIll H h FILE. 5

INVENTOR. ML LIQM H. STOUT ATTORNEYS w. H. STOUT SELF-DRAININCIRRIGATION LINE July 17, 195] 5 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed March 14, 1950 7 6567 FIE- ILEJ 3m entor MAL/AM H 87-007 (Ittomegs an My y 1951 w. H. STOUT2,561,296

SELF-DRAINING IRRIGATION LINE Filed March 14, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3FIE-E I A7 62 IV/////////// //A\ FIE Bnnentor MLLIHM H'Srour PatentedJuly 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT o FFTE SELF-DRAINING IRRIGATION. LINEWilliam,v H. Stout, Portland, Oreg.

ApplicationlMarchl l, 195.0, SeriaLNo. 149,579

6 Glaims (Cl. 137-78) The present. invention relate tov systemsv for thedistribution. oi irrigation water, and more particularly to improvementsinsuch systems of the type in. which sections of. portable; conduitprovided with spaced sprinkler heads are. used irrigate-,. successivelyadjacent portions of a field; the conduitsections; being movedprogressively to: difierent; positions as; the irrigation. of eachsection is completed.

Systems. ofthe type to which the presentinvention is directedcompriseessentially a plurality of; sections of pipe. or similar conduitconnected by couplings in the upper portions of which are disposed waterdistributing outlets in the form of upwardly extending. pipes surmountedconventional' sprinkler heads. In the; employmentof such: systems forirrigation purposestheconduit is; positioned centrallyof a strip of.landto be irrigated, and wateris supplied as by, a pump. to one. end ofthe conduit, the other end of which is. closed. so that the water passesthrou h the severar water distributing outlets and is sprayed overtheadjacent area. When the irrigation of the area reached by the water,from the sprinkler headsis; completed, the water is shutofi and theentire conduit is; moved: to another location, usually adjacentthefirst, where irrigation is resumed in the same manner.

As such systems were first used, it was-thepractice todisconnectthe.several; pipe-sections from their couplings before moving them to. a new10- cation as. above described and to reconnectthem to. their couplingsat a new location, but in view of the. time and effort requiredfor-such. disconnection and reassembly, various ways have been developedof. transporting. such conduits from one location to another withoutrequiring themto be disconnected and reassembled. According to one suchmethod, which is. describedand claimed my application Serial, No-.28,239.- filed May 20, 1948. for Method of Transferring Irrigation Pipe,a large. number of coupled sections; of pipe aremovedgenerally endwisealong. an undulatorypath by means of a. tractor or the like coupled toone end thereof; crop damage being prevented by the use of. suitableguides to confine the pathof movement of the pipe during such a. towingoperation- Other methods which have been developed include one in whicha largenumber. of coupled sections. of pipe. mounted upon wheelselevating the conduit thus formed a. sufficient distance above the.ground to avoid crop damage during. movement may be. rolled in adirection at right. angles. to the longitudinal. axis 01' the conduit.upon. suchwheels.

Every suchv attempt to move large, numbers, of

o pl dv sections. of. irri a on. pipe. has, however. been. handicapped,by the weight of the water Whichremainsinthe cond it afterthesupp y hasbeen, shut. 011;. Due to. this factor the number of coupled sectionswhich could be. moved as a unit. has. been very limite d ttempts. toaviod this limitation, as by uncapping the end of the conduitfordrainage or intentionally providingfor ade ree of le ka e at th ga k s btw n the pipe sectionsand couplers have been unsatisfactory bccause end.drainage in the case of a lengthy conduit not only requires that theuser travel. to, the end of the conduitand uncap and recap it, but isvery slow, and. because the pro vision of any degree of leakage at thegaskets is undesirable for obvious reasons.

According to the presentinvention meansare provided-for rapidly andcompletely, drainingsuch an: irrigation conduit, and reclosing thedrainage apertures without requiring the operator. to move from thestationatwhich he shuts off the water supply to, the, conduit. Rapid andcomplete drainage of, the conduit is secured by disposing a series ofdrain apertures along'the lower portion. of the conduit throughoutsubstantially its entire length, and valving-means are associated witheach such drain aperture which are capable of" being controlled by theoperator from his station at the supply valve so that thedrain aperturesmay be opened and reclosed without requiring him'to leave the station.

While it is contemplated that spring-closed valves capable of beingopenedby: a remote control actuated? from the operators station may beused for this purpose, the preferred forms of the invention utilizeautomatically operated valves which are responsivetofluid force inthe-conduit so that they will close automaticallywhen the supply-valveis opened by the operator and will open automatically Whenthe supplyvalve is closed'by: the operator; making a separate drain valveactuation unnecessary.

The automatic valvi-ngmeans employed in connection with the presentinvention may be responsive to fluid force either inthe formof fluidpressure within the conduit or merely to the velocity of fluid flowingthrough the. com duit to close the drain apertures. Velocity re.-sponsive, valving. means are preferred, however, because they act morepromptly than, the pres.- sure responsive. valving, means. and. close.the drain, apertures. as the irrigation. water first reaches. them, so,thatpressure is built up more quickly in. the. conduit. and. inpractice. a! sub.- stantially longer. conduit can, be employed.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of the jointapplication of Stout and Pearson, Serial No. 37,105 filed July 6, 1948for a Self-Draining Pipe Joint and of the joint aplication of Stout andTerrill, Serial No. 70,096 filed January 14, 1949, for a Drain Valve forPipe Lines, now Patent No. 2,512,695 dated June 2'7, 1950, disclosingand claiming particular valve mechanisms adapted for use :in connectionwith the present invention.

The construction and mode of operation of two preferred embodiments ofthe present invention will be best understood from the followingdescription when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich: I

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a portion of an irrigationconduit in which the present invention is embodied, illustrating aremote drain-valve control adapted for actuation from the operatorsstation at the supply valve;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section of a portion of the conduitof Figure 1 adjacent the coupler and illustrating a manually controlleddrain valve employed in the combination of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal section of aportion of a conduit suchas that shown in Figure 1 adjacent a coupler embodying a valvingmechanism responsive to fluid pressure in the conduit; the left-hand endof the coupler being shown as a section along the lines 4--4 of Figure 5and the right-hand end of the coupler being shown as a section takenalong the line 4'4' of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view in section taken along the line 6-5 of Figure 4; i VFigure '7 is a view in longitudinal section of a modified form ofcoupler in which the valving means is responsive to the velocity offluid flowing through the conduit; 7

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the lines 88 of Figure 7; Figure 9is a detail view of the lower central portion of this coupler;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view of the valving means of Figure 7illustrating the action of the same when subjected to the action of thefluid flowing through the pipe; and

Figure 11 is a detail view in perspective of the valving means of Figure7.

As shown in Figure 1, the irrigation system of the present inventioncomprises a plurality of sections of pipe I connected by couplersgenerally designated '2 having a plurality of water distributing outlets3 disposed one in each coupler. In "practice these water distributingoutlets usually receive stand pipes 4 which are surmounted byconventional sprinkler heads 5.

In the form of the invention illustrated'in Fig-v ures 1, 2 and 3 thereare drain apertures disposed along the lower portion of the conduitconsisting of apertures 6 controlled by valves 1 rotatably mounted bypins 8 and 8a in the body of the coupler 2. The pin 8a extends throughthe side of the coupler and is provided with an upwardly extendingportion 8b. A tension spring 9 isdisposed between the upper end of theportion 8b and an anchorage on the body of the coupler, so as tonormally maintain the valve! in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3,in which a port 1a therethrough is out of communicatiqn 4 Q with theinterior of the coupler. A cable or cord In is releasably connected tothe upper ends of all of the portion 81) of the pins 8a and terminatesin an end portion Ilia adjacent a water supply valve l l at the end ofthe conduit.

When it is desired to move a conduit embodying this form of theinvention, the valve l l is operated to shut off the water supply andthe end portion lfla of cable I0 is pulled. This rotates all of thevalves 1 so that their ports la communicate with the interior of theircouplers and with the space between guard plate Hi and the coupler, sothat the water remaining in the conduit may drain onto the ground, pastthe outer edges of the guard plate as more particularly described inconnection with Figures 7, 8 and 9. When the pull on cable H3 isrelaxed, springs 9 reclose each valve 1 so that irrigation may beresumed.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, thereare normally open drain apertures disposed along the lower portion ofthe conduit consisting of passages l5 extending between the interior ofthe pipe sections 1 and the exterior of the couplings 2a, as illustratedin Figure 4, and the valving means disposed adjacent each of these drainapertures is responsive to fluid force in the conduit in the form ofpressure.

Referring to the drawing for more specific details of the invention, thecoupling comprises a relatively short length of generally cylindricalpipe, indicated generally at 201,, having a boss [6 carrying a headerpipe 4a in communication with the space H within the coupler. Thecoupler is preferably symmetrical with respect to the boss 16 and eachof the end portions I8 and 29 are provided with a plurality of spacedfingers 22, preferably integral with the coupler, and extending beyondthe end edges 24 and 26 thereof. The fingers 22 are provided withsemi-concave outer surfaces 28. The end portions IB and 2B of thecoupler are further characterized by a plurality of spaced relativelylong flutings or grooves 30 in the underside thereof extending from theend edges 24 and 26 to circumferental grooves 32'adjacent the boss I6;circular slots 34 in the end edges 24 and 26, said slots beingconcentric with respect to said end edges and internally threaded boltholes '36.

Flexible gaskets 38, preferably of rubber, having rib portions carriedwithin the slots 34 and sealing lip portions 42 eccentric with respectto the rib portions are carried by the coupler and are provided witharcuate inner surfaces 44 complementary to the surfaces 28 of thefingers 22. The fingers serve as buttressing elements for the sealinglip portions 42 of the gaskets and prevent inward movement of saidportions from their position shown in' Figures 4 and 5. The provision ofdual gaskets gives efiicient initial closing action under flow of waterin either direction through the coupler.

Pipe lengths I adapted to be joined for opera tive use by the coupler 2aare sleeved over the end portions I8 and 20 of the coupler until boltholes '48 in said pipe lengths 46 are brought into registry with thebolt holes 36, whereupon the pipe lengths are secured to the coupler bybolts 50 threadably engaged with the holes 36 through holes 48.

Washers 52 are interposed between the pipe It "the latter beingconcentric with respect to the ends of the coupler 2a, and it'w-ill'now'be noted that the sealing lip portions M are eccentric with respectto the pipe lengths 'I, said portions 4-2 being in engagement with theupper part of the inner surfaces of the pipes "I, but beingprogressively separated therefrom towards the sides and bottom of thepipes 'l to provide the passage [5 having its maximum transversedimension at the lowermost parts of the pipes 'l, as best shown in tionpurposes, as shown in Figure 1, and that a source of water supply isconnected to the resultant irrigation line through a pump, the incomingwater flowing through the pipe will quite rapidly fill the pipe whilesome of the water passes through the passages and the Iflutings .30 "tothe grooves 32 and onto "the ground. "The flow through the open"passageways described will serve to wash the flutings free of dirtwhich may have been introduced herein if the line was dragged along theground to its position of present use.

'It is to be noted that the end portions l8 and "of the-coupler, andtherefore the fiutings 3'!) therein, are sufficiently long to render itunlikely that 'any' dirt will have travelled the full length of the'flutings and into the passages l5 during the positioning-of the pipeline.

While the 'flu'tings are being washe'd clean, the water level within thepipe rapidly rises until the water fills the pipe, at which time theeffective water pressure urges the sealing lip portions 4-2 o'f'thegaskets outwardly to close the passages l5 and seal the pipe lineagainst leakage. 'The passages l5 are progressively closed; that is,first the narrowest -'or upper portion of the passages are closed by aforcing of the sealing lips of the a gaskets against the surfaces of thepipes 1-, and the closure proceeds progressively until the passages itare closed at their widest or lowermost portions, the gasket opposed tothe direction of flow being subjected to greater initial pressure be-'ing closed first. If it should happen that the flutings 3! weresui'liciently jammed with dirt so that the dirt was not displaced by thewater outflow during the filling of the pipe, the progressive closure ofthe passages It to a point where only the ends of the flutings aredisclosed will serve to concentrate or focus the effective waterpressure along the flutings to eject the difiicultly dislodgable dirt.Until this dirt is dislodged and washed out of the flutings to bring thepassages 15 into communication with the atmosphere, the passages willnot be fully closed by the sealing lips since the back pressure againstcomplete closing will balance the pressure tending to fully close thepassages. It is only when the fiutings are free of dirt that the backpressure becomes atmospheric pressure, which is then over-balanced bythe fluid pressure force to fully close the passages I 5. When the pipeis full of water and sealed against leakage by the gaskets, the water isforced into the header pipes 4a to issue from spray heads M or the likefor irrigation purposes.

Following sufficient irrigation of the land adjacent the pipe, the pipeis readied for movement to another position by shutting off the watersup- '6 ply, whereupon the fluid pressure within the pipe line dropssu'fficiently to allow the natural resiliency of the gaskets '38together with the added force of atmospheric pressure to overcome thefluid pressure and to open the passages 15 in reverse order to thesequence of closing thereof to first disclose the flutings 30 and thenthe progressively narrower portions of the passages 15. As the flutingsare diclosed, the water in the pipe passes therethrough to the grooves52 and then onto 'the ground, and the pipe is drained in this manner todecrease its weight for the ensuing portage operation to relocate thepipe.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures '7 to 11, inclusive, thevalving means are responsive to fluid force in the form of velocity toclose the normally open drain apertures, and by employing'this form ofvalv-ing means, closure of the drain apertures is efiected as soon aswater flowing through the conduit reaches the valving means; it beingunnecessary for pressure to be built up in the line.

As shown in Figure '7, the underside of the coupling 2b is formed withan indentation if providing a flat ledge ti internally of the couplingand extending across the periphery thereof on a substantially straightline or chord as shown in Figure B. The ledge is formed with a centralaperture '52 in which there is fitted and secured a grommet or collar'63, having a top peripheral flange 64 which engages the base portion ofa valve 65.

The valve 65 is formed with two oppositelypositioned identicalltlaps 65which norm'allyextend in substantially parallel planes from the baseportion :of the valve. When the liquid. flows through pressure withinthe pipe line is maintained. The opposite flap 66 will be caused to lieidle, as illustrated, and relief of pressure will cause the flaps 66 tospring upright and open the port for drainage. It will be understoodthat provision of dual flaps is to assure operation of the valve ineither direction'of water flow, and that one flap only is required ifwater flow always to be in'the'same direction.

With the relation of the coupler 2b and pipe section ends shown inFigures 57 .and 8, the indentation in the coupler 2b under which thedrainage aperture produced by the collar 63 opens, should be guarded toprevent plugging of the opening by mud or dirt. This is effected by theprovision of a guard plate l0 preferably in the form of a circular discbent into arcuate form on a curve of greater radius than that of thecoupler 2b. This disc bridges the depression in the outer surface ofcoupler 2b and has its opposite margins axially of the coupling as at Hfixed thereto as by welding or bracing. Due to the greater curve of theplate, water may escape between its lateral portions and the adjacentportions of the coupling through the openings 12, but the edges of thelateral portions being above the ground contacting surface will tend toprevent free entrance and packing of soil to an extent such as the flowof escaping water could not discharge, and since the openings 12 are ata right angle to the axis of the pipe line, dirt and debris will notenter them if the line is dragged from one location to another. Themanner in which the pipe sections l are connected to the coupler 2b issimilar, as shown, to the manner of connection of such pipe sections totheform of coupler shown in Figures 4 to 6; it being desirable, however,to provide sealing gaskets seated in indentations 16 of the coupler 2bto prevent leakage of fluid between the pipe sections and the couplerwalls.

The embodiments of the invention described herein provide simple,efficient and reliable devices for draining pipe lines under theconditions referred to, and while these specific embodiments showvarious forms in which the invention may be incorporated, it will beunderstood that variadrain apertures disposed along the lower portion ofsaid conduit, a drain valve contained entirely within the peripheraldimensions of said pipe sections at each of said drain apertures foropening and closing the same, and a control station having means forcontrolling the flow of irrigation Water into said conduit and theopening and closing of said drain valves.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a portable conduit ofcoupled pipe sections having a plurality of water distributing outletsdisposed along the upper portion thereof, a plurality of drain aperturesdisposed along the lower portion of said conduit, a drain valvecontained entirely within the peripheral dimensions of said pipesections at each of said drain apertures including means responsive tofluid force in said conduit for closing said drain apertures; said meansbeing also responsive to reduction of fluid pressure in said conduit toreopen said drain apertures, and a control station having means forcontrolling the flow of irrigation water into said conduit and therebyto control the opening and closing of said drain valves.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a portable conduit ofcoupled pipe sections having a plurality of water distributing outletsdisposed along the upper portion thereof, a plurality of drain aperturesdisposed along the lower portion of said conduit, a drain valvecontained entirely within the peripheral dimensions of said pipesections at each of said drain apertures including means responsive tothe velocity of fluid flowing through said conduit for closing saiddrain apertures; said means being also responsive to reduction of fluidpressure in said conduit to reopen said drain apertures, and a controlstation having means for controlling the flow of irrigation water intosaid conduit and thereby to control the opening and closing of saiddrain valves.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a portable conduit ofcoupled pipe sections having a plurality of water distributing outletsdisposed along the upper portion thereof, a plurality of drain aperturesdisposed along the lower portion of said conduit, a drain valvecontained entirely within the peripheral dimensions of said pipesections at each of said drain apertures including means responsive toincrease of fluid pressure in said conduit to close said drain aperture;said means being also responsive to reduction of fluid pressure in saidconduit to reopen said drain apertures, and a control station havingmeans for controlling the flow of irrigation water into said conduit andthereby to control the opening and closing of said drain valves.

5. A portable irrigation system of the character described comprising aconduit formed of a plurality of coupled pipe sections and having aplurality of water distributing outlets spaced along the upper portionthereof; the lower portion of said conduit presenting a face free fromprojections tending to resist axial sliding movement of the conduitalong the surface of the ground, a plurality of drain apertures spacedalong the lowermost portion of said conduit, a drain valve located ateach of said apertures; each of said valves being disposed entirelyabove its respective drain aperture and within the peripheral dimensionsof said pipe sections and having an operating means extending into thedirect path of fluid flowing through said conduit and responsive to thevelocity of such fluid to close its associated drain aperture; saidmeans being also responsive to reduction of fluid pressure and velocityin said conduit to reopen said aperture, and a control station havingmeans for controlling the flow of irrigation water into said conduit.

6. A portable irrigation system according to claim 5 in which each ofsaid drain apertures is provided externally thereof with a guard membersecured in the path of fluid exiting from said aperture.

WILLIAM H. STOUT.

No references cited.

